Comm. No. 25-04.07 From Prosecuting Attorney Kelden B. A. Waltjen Providing Supplemental Input re Salary Adjustments for FY25-26

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appointed officials within the State executive branch.With respect to the Judiciary the following increases were recommended and confirmed by the Legislature: •Effective July 1,2025, increase the salary of the chief justice and associate justices of the supreme court by 10%; chief judge and associate judges of the intermediate court of appeals by 10%; circuit court judges by 12%; and district court judges by 10%. •Effective July 1,2026,increase the salaries of all positions by 10%. •Effective July 1,2027,increase the salary of the chief justice and associate justices of the supreme court by 8%,chief judge of the intermediate court of appeals by 8%, associate judges of the intermediate court of appeals by 9%; circuit court judges by 9%,and district court judges by 8%. •Effective July 1,2028,July 1,2029,and July 1,2030,increase the salaries of all positions by 4%each years. It is also important to note,that there are currently 33 State circuit court judges across the State but only four county prosecuting attorneys. Of the four county prosecuting attorneys,three are elected, including the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney whom besides the Hawai`i County Mayor is the only other elected Hawai`i County official whose jurisdiction extends across Hawai`i Island. State circuit court judges' salaries are of particular importance.As noted in our September 24,2025 input to this Commission,the National District Attorneys Association has set forth the following standard that should be considered when determining the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney: 1-4.2 Compensation;Responsibilities of the Chief Prosecutor Chief prosecutors should be compensated commensurate with their responsibilities. The salary of the full-time chief prosecutor should be at least that of the salary of the chief judge of general trial jurisdiction in the chief prosecutor's district and should not be lowered during a term of office. Factors that should be considered in determining compensation include,but are not limited to: a. The benefits to the jurisdiction of encouraging highly competent people to seek a position of prosecutor with a career orientation; and b. The level of compensation of people with analogous responsibilities in the private practice of law,in private industry,and in public service."2 The current proposal being considered by the Salary Commission to mirror HGEA's salary increases for executives and elected officials is reasonable when compared to the State Commission on Salaries' recommendations that were affirmed by the Legislature earlier this year. State circuit court judges salaries are now$243,156 effective July 1,2025 and will further increase to $267,468 effective July 1,2027, $291,540 effective July 1,2028, $303,204 effective July 1,2028, $315,336 effective July 1,2029,and$327,948 effective 1 https://dhrd.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-0313-COS-FINAL-Report-Appendices-1.pdf. 2 https://ndaa.org/wp-content/uploads/NDAA-NPS-3rd-Ed.-w-Revised-Commentary.pdf. 2